Eating Disorders

It’s an eating disorder when it takes over your life.

Adopting ritualistic eating habits and rules…

Avoiding entire food groups (e.g., fats, carbs, or sugars), limiting food intake, or inflexible food preparation practices may indicate an eating disorder.

Refusing to eat with others…

People with eating disorders tend to eat by themselves, avoid social functions where there is food, or disappear when food is served. They may opt to eat alone rather than with their partner or family.

Struggling to have a healthy relationship with food…

Examples of an unhealthy relationship with food include avoiding or restricting food, purging or other compensatory activities such as over-exercising, or eating past the point of fullness.

Obsessing about food and body weight…

Thinking about food, counting calories, or ways to burn calories is common for people with eating disorders. They may also obsess about their size or weight, making unhealthy or unrealistic goals.

It’s not just a psychological issue.

It takes a toll on your body.

Eating disorders can cause gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, and high or low blood pressure.

You might be chronically dehydrated, weak, dizzy, or have joint pain.

Other health issues associated with eating disorders are brittle nails, constantly being cold, stopping menstruation, severe constipation, and drastic swings in body weight.

Where does all this come from?

Sometimes, it’s from low self-esteem or insecurity about your body shape or weight. Disordered eating becomes a way of coping with feelings of inadequacy.

For others, what starts as an effort to lose a few pounds, fit into a smaller size, or eat “healthy” becomes an all-encompassing obsession that takes control over every aspect of their life.

Work, friends, and family all take a back seat, as their time is spent obsessing over food, calculating calories, binge-eating, and fearing “being fat.”

An eating disorder can slowly take control over your mental and physical well-being, and if it progresses into anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, it can be lethal.

The road to recovery starts here.

Getting accurate information…

Those who struggle with an eating disorder commonly hold distorted beliefs about their body, food, and what is “healthy.” Therapy can help you recognize and change those distorted thoughts (that lead to eating-disordered behaviors) by giving you good information on food, weight, and the body.

Managing your emotions…

Another important component of therapy is learning how to manage the emotions that underlie an eating disorder. Learning to tolerate distress, label emotions, reduce vulnerabilities to emotions, and increase positive emotional experiences can help you reduce disordered eating to cope with emotions.

Thinking clearly…

Your ability to think clearly is compromised when your body doesn’t receive enough calories or nutrition. Let’s make sure you remain vigilant to hunger and satiety cues so you can reduce negative self-talk and accept your body.

Addressing interpersonal issues…

Therapy can help identify problematic areas in relationships by teaching skills to communicate more effectively, set boundaries and limits, and get your needs met in a healthy way. Improved interpersonal skills can also reduce the stress and conflict that sometimes contribute to disordered eating.

Getting the right nutrition…

To assess your nutritional intake and help you improve your eating habits, you will be referred to a nutritionist or registered dietician specializing in eating disorders. They will discuss with you what your body needs to function effectively, create a plan to improve your eating habits, and collaborate with the team to monitor your progress and address any concerns.

Bringing in a team…

As part of the screening process, you will be asked to have an updated physical with a primary care physician and notify them that you are beginning eating disorder treatment. If you are medically cleared for outpatient treatment, you will most likely schedule regular appointments with your medical expert to monitor your health during treatment. Outpatient treatment for eating disorders requires a team of providers to be effective. We’ll collaborate with you to make sure you have the right team and that we’re working toward the goals that matter most to you.

Let’s make sure you’re in the right place to heal.

During the first few treatment sessions, we’ll determine if outpatient treatment is the correct level of care.

Sometimes, inpatient treatment is needed first to stabilize conditions and improve overall health.

Other levels of treatment may include a step-down or partial hospitalization treatment for those recently discharged from inpatient treatment or those who don’t meet the threshold for an inpatient stay.

There are also residential treatment facilities where patients live and receive intensive treatment for a period of time.

Finally, there are intensive outpatient services. They’re not residential but provide group therapy, education, individual treatment, and medical/nutritional services.

If at any point you decide you would rather not work with me, I can provide you with a referral to a colleague with specialized training and experience in treating eating disorders. If I’m not the one you feel comfortable working with, I will do my best to direct you to treatment.

There is hope… and help is available.

Eating disorders can be a rollercoaster of emotions and harmful behaviors.

Let’s give you the skills and support to cope and form a healthier relationship with food and your body.

Family members may be welcomed into sessions to discuss conflicts or provide instruction on how to assist you during treatment.

Don’t put this off. It’s time to get on the road to recovery!

I’m here to help.

Call now, and we’ll start by getting to know each other during your free phone consultation: (315) 520-8234.